Treatment of cavities in a human body

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are described, including apparatus for treating a cavity in a human body, the apparatus including a delivery tube. A barrier device has a collapsed and an expanded configuration, the barrier device moving from the collapsed to the expanded configuration upon being deployed from the delivery tube. A pushing element, slidably disposed within a lumen of the delivery tube, deploys the barrier device from the delivery tube by pushing the barrier device. One or more barrier-deployment elements are coupled to the barrier device and to the pushing element, the barrier-deployment elements being configured to conformingly contact the barrier device with tissue surrounding the cavity. The barrier device is configured to isolate the cavity from surrounding body fluid that is between the barrier device and the pushing element, following deployment of the barrier device from the delivery tube. Other applications are also described.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for treating a cavity in a human body, the apparatus comprising:
 a delivery tube; 
 a barrier device having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the barrier device moving from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration upon being deployed from the delivery tube; 
 a pushing element, slidably disposed within a lumen of the delivery tube, configured to deploy the barrier device from the delivery tube by pushing the barrier device; and 
 a plurality of barrier-deployment elements coupled at respective distal ends thereof to the barrier device and to the pushing element, the barrier-deployment elements being configured to conformingly contact the barrier device with tissue surrounding the cavity,
 the barrier device being configured to isolate the cavity from surrounding body fluid that is between the barrier device and the pushing element, following deployment of the barrier device from the delivery tube, 
 
 wherein a first one of the barrier-deployment elements comprises a spring, comprising:
 a first spring-arm that is pivotably coupled to the pushing element at a proximal end of the first spring-arm; and 
 a second spring-arm that is pivotably coupled to the pushing element at a proximal end of the second spring-arm, wherein the proximal end of the second spring-arm is more longitudinally moveable with respect to the pushing element than is the proximal end of the first spring-arm. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier device is generally flat when no force is applied to the barrier device. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier device is not part of a bag. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier-deployment elements comprise a plurality of legs. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the legs is hingedly coupled to the pushing element. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a hinge, wherein the at least one of the legs is hingedly coupled to the pushing element via the hinge. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein following deployment of the barrier device from the delivery tube, an angle between (a) each of the legs, and (b) a longitudinal axis of the delivery tube, is between 20 and 50 degrees, if a normal to a plane defined by the barrier device is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the delivery tube. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier-deployment elements comprise a shape-memory material. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier device is configured to trap fluid between the barrier device and the cavity, following deployment of the barrier device from the delivery tube. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier device comprises a flexible sheet. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a suction tube shaped to define a suction tube lumen, wherein:
 the barrier device is shaped to define an opening therethrough, and 
 the suction tube is coupled to the barrier device such that the suction tube lumen is in fluid communication with the opening. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier device is transparent to a type of light selected from the group consisting of: visible light, and ultraviolet A light. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is for use with a light source, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a light guide, the light guide configured to guide light from the light source toward a distal end of the delivery tube. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to allow for a continuum of angles between (a) a longitudinal axis of the delivery tube, and (b) a normal to a plane defined by the barrier device upon deployment thereof from the delivery tube, the continuum including an at least 40 degree continuum. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a therapeutic agent delivery tube configured to deliver a therapeutic agent to the cavity. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is for use with a temperature regulator, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a heat-transfer element configured to be driven by the temperature regulator to transfer heat in a direction selected from the group consisting of: to the cavity, and from the cavity. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the cavity and communicate the sensed temperature to the temperature regulator. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of the barrier-deployment elements is configured to pivot independently of each of the other barrier-deployment elements. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second spring-arm is longer than the first spring-arm. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the pushing element is shaped to define a channel, and wherein the proximal end of the second spring-arm is longitudinally moveable within the channel. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the distal portion of the pushing element is shaped to define a hole, wherein the first spring-arm is coupled to the pushing element by the proximal end of the first spring-arm fitting in the hole, and wherein a length of the channel is greater than a diameter of the hole. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier device is configured to move from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration at least by the proximal end of the second spring-arm moving in a proximal direction. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second spring-arms converge at respective distal ends thereof. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the second spring-arm is axially slidable with respect to the pushing element, and the proximal end of the first spring-arm is axially fixed with respect to the pushing element. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier device comprises a plurality of hinges, and wherein the first and the second spring-arms are hingedly coupled to the barrier device by exactly one of the hinges. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the barrier device comprises a plurality of hinges, which are distinct from the legs and are fixed to a proximal surface of the barrier device, 
 wherein the legs are hingedly coupled to the hinges, such that the legs are pivotable with respect to the hinges.